Sciatica Explained
Let's talk about Sciatica. Sciatica may be one of the most vague terms used in medicine. It is a fancy name used to describe that pain going down your leg. It is named for the sciatic nerve, but to understand why it is happening, you have to understand how the nerve is formed. Then you can see how a misaligned bone in the back can cause the pain. From there, you will be able to take the appropriate measures needed to find the right clinician that will put you on the proper path to recovery from this irritating and often debilitating problem.
The sciatic nerve is a combination of 5-6 nerves that are located in the lower spine. They join together in the butt cheek and run down the hind part of the leg. The combination of these nerves control all the muscles found in the lower body. The sciatic nerve stems from L2, L3, L4, L5, S1 and sometimes S2 nerve roots. That probably means nothing to someone who hasn't been taking science classes for a hot minute, so think of it as being the last 4 bones in the spine and the tailbone. Nerves will shoot out of each of these bones on both sides and come together like a power line going from your house to the electric company.
Sciatica can occur when just one of these 5-6 nerves is pinched. Each nerve will come out of a small hole on the side of the bone. The pinch is usually due to the bone shifting out of proper alignment and putting added pressure on the nerve by narrowing the hole that the nerve comes out of. When the pinch happens, that nerve will not be able to work like it usually does. Instead of experiencing proper muscle function, you will feel numb, sore, tight muscles, inflammation, lack of movement and eventually pain. If the impingement is serious enough, you may hurt when you sit, stand, walk, go to the bathroom, or use your leg. If the pain is extreme, you need to be properly diagnosed to determine which nerve is being impinged so the problem can be corrected.
There are multiple avenues one can take to get relief from sciatica. Each has their own benefits and problems. Chiropractic is affordable (depending on the chiropractor) and effective in correcting the misalignment which takes pressure off of the nerve. That is what chiropractic is designed to do, especially at Vert Chiropractic in Greenville, SC. The negatives of chiropractic are that each chiropractor is different from the next, they may try to put you on long term care plans, and they use scare tactics to reel you into those long term care plans. Physical therapy will get the results you are looking for but the relief may not be immediate. PT focuses on muscle work, so correction of the bone will not be factored into the equation. Your medical Doctor will give you muscle relaxers, painkillers, a cortisone shot, or send you to the PT. All these may work for a time but none will be a long term solution, except for the PT, pending which way they decide to treat you. Surgery will take the pressure off the bone permanently, but the cost is high. You have to undergo back surgery and get screws put in the back. Recovery takes time as well, so you will be out of commission for a long time.
Sciatica is one of the most common injuries in the world. Fixing the problem will bring you the relief that you are looking for, so understanding what is going on helps you to find the help. Each of the forms of treatment listed above will get you feeling the way you need to feel, but it is up to you to weigh the pluses and minuses and determine which avenue to take. You only get one body, and preserving that body is key to living a happy, full life. If you ever have questions or would like to receive a consultation to determine if sciatica is your problem, call Vert Chiropractic at 864-2515725 or visit our website at vertchiro.com to learn more and schedule a time to speak with our fully trained staff.
Be well!